REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT UNITY LUNCHEON
Private Residence
Washington, D.C.

1:20 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Let me begin by saying that we
decided, Tom and Dick and I, after we found ourselves in the minority in
1995 and we were facing the Republican Contract on America, that if we
stayed together, that our policy positions could prevail; and that what
we wanted to do for the country would be much more difficult to do, but
that we could still get a lot of it done.

And we had that terrible experience of the government shutdown in late
'95 and '96. But after that, when the American people made their voices
heard, we had a good election in '96. We had a balanced budget
agreement, which closed the remaining 8 percent of the gap in balancing
the budget, but, importantly, should give us a balanced budget for years
and years to come -- with a lot of our priorities in it: including
health care for 5 million kids and the widest opening of the doors of
college since the GI bill. None of that would have happened if we
hadn't worked together. And I could not have done any of it if it
hadn't been for the Democrats in the House and the Senate. I think
that's very important.

We are seeing the potential of a replay of that now, as we get closer
and closer to the election and the feelings of the American people
become apparent. In a few days I'll get a chance to sign a higher
education bill which has a big drop in the interest rates on student
loans and a program to provide mentors for inner-city kids in their
junior high school years or middle school years that will include a
guarantee of access to funds to go to college, if they stay out of
trouble, stay in school and learn.

These things would absolutely be impossible in the present array of
Congress with the Republicans in the majority, if we weren't working
together. So there is a substantive benefit to that.

Now, let me say where we are now is a position that I think is
virtually unprecedented in 150 years. In 150 years of American
political history, the President's party in the midterm elections nearly
always lose, and in the second term of the President I don't think
there's an exception. But we are on the verge of having an exception,
and I would like to tell you why and why I think your investment is well
made.

Normally, these midterm elections have a big fall-off in voter turnout.
And that is the assumption and, indeed, what our opponents are literally
working for and hoping for and praying for, because a lot of the people
that vote for us would never be able to come into a home like this
except to maybe serve lunch. And it's a big hassle for a lot of them to
vote; you know, they have to worry about child care and the job and
getting to vote and all that.

When I was in Philadelphia with Peter and others a couple of days ago,
a friend of mine from New Jersey came over and brought me a survey that
had just been done in New Jersey asking people if in the current climate
they were more or less likely to vote in the midterm elections. Fifty
50 percent said they were more likely, 10 percent said they were less
likely. Fifty percent of the Republicans said they were more likely --
49 percent of the Democrats -- I mean, 49 percent of the independents,
57 percent of the Democrats said there were more likely to go and vote.

So what is important for us is we don't have to run a negative
campaign. All we have to do is say, you know what their agenda is; our
agenda is, first of all, to see America lead in heading off this crisis
in the global financial system, beginning with funding the International
Monetary Fund contribution so we can keep the economy going at home.
Secondly, don't spend the surplus now on a tax cut just before the
election or right after the election; save the Social Security system
first. Thirdly, continue education as our first investment priority.
Fourthly, pass this HMO bill of rights, which, interestingly enough, has
more than three-quarters support of the American people without regard
to party -- it's a uniform issue across the board -- which they killed.
And then, obviously, the other things that we believe in, including
protecting the environment as we continue to grow the economy.

But if run on the strength of the economy and our responsibility
in the world economy to keep America's economy strong, on the education
issue, on the saving Social Security first -- these issues are very,
very powerful and they stand in stark contrast to the evident priorities
of the majority in Congress.

So we actually have a chance to do something never before done
here, but it will not happen unless, first of all, we stay together and,
secondly, we have enough funds to get our message out. We don't have to
have as much money as they do -- we'll never have as much money as they
do. But we have a chance to do something literally without precedent in
20th century American political history -- just by doing the right
thing. It's not even complicated. We just have to stand up there and
fight for what is evidently in the interest of the American people.

And that is what your investment will be used to do. And they'll
do it right. I've never seen the Democrats more well focused on how to
do this business and how to be there in the last 10 days of the election
when very often -- and to give you an example, in 1996, when we picked
up several House seats and lost two Senate seats in what was a very bad
rotation for us -- the next three rotations, by the way, are good for us
in the Senate elections. We've had three that were terrible, in terms
of we always had more seats up than they did, we had more people
retiring than they did.

But in '96, when we picked up a few House seats, lost two Senate
seats, we were out-spent in the close races the last 10 days, near as I
can tell, four to one, or more. That will give you an idea of the level
of disadvantage here, and it also might explain why they killed campaign
finance reform this year.

But we can do this. And we can do it simply by doing what is
right for America. It's not a complicated strategy. There's no twist
and turn to it; it's very straightforward and, I think, self-evident.

So I feel good about where we are, good about where we're going,
and very grateful to all of you, because the American people need
stability and strength and a clear message on this economic issue, on
the education issue, on the Social Security issue. And I think if we
give it to them, we're going to be just fine and it's going to be quite
surprising to a lot of the pundits. But none of it would be possible if
you weren't willing to come here today and do your part and then some,
and we're very grateful.